The Hindu : Spaniards feel it was much ado about a rock

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 22, 2002

International

International

Spaniards feel it was much ado about a rock

MADRID JULY 21. Spaniards were relieved on Sunday that a nasty dispute with neighbouring Morocco over a Mediterranean island seems solved, though neither government so far has publicly explained the agreement. "I'm glad it's over. It has been a ridiculous problem," said Jose Miguel Oliveros, 30, a movie special effects technician, after glancing at the morning paper with front-page photos of Spanish troops departing the island. "Both Morocco and Spain should be determined to solve their immigration and drug trafficking problems the same way they defended a tiny and uninhabited rock tooth and nail," he added.

The dispute was over an island Spain calls Perejil (parsley) and Morocco, Leila (night). Both countries claim the rock outcrop that lies about 200 meters off Morocco's north coast. Morocco stationed about a dozen policemen on the island July 11, ostensibly to monitor drug and illegal immigrant traffic. Spain peacefully dislodged them last Wednesday. Spain recalled its several dozen troops after the Moroccan Foreign Minister, Mohamed Benaissa, said Morocco would not attempt to reoccupy the island.

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